We all know that the old TATA SAFARI Vicor 400 is legendary SUV which is loved by all for its comfortable ride quality, 4X4 capabilities and ruggedness. Now the TATA safari is back in its new avatar, its based on the TATA Harrier which was launched in the year 2019.
EXTERIOR
From the front the Safari looks quite similar to the Harrier, the grill comes from the harrier Signature Tri-arrow finished in chrome instead of gloss black which merges with the DRLs. The headlights are Xenon HID with projector setup and Fog lights on the lower side. Coming to the side profile it looks pretty nice it has that body cladding across the car, the handles are finished in chrome. The wheelbase is identical to the Harrier 2.7 meters long. Coming to the side vehicle the rear lights are slightly revised to that of harrier. Unfortunately it doesn’t get the powered tailgate, but the spare tire size the same as the outgoing tires 235 sections but rims are 16 inchers instead of 18 inchers.
INTERIOR
As we get inside the TATA Safari, The door has two of the compartments for storage, the quality of switches and door are great and the door shuts with that reassuring THAD!(instincts of great build quality) as expected from TATA. We get a great amount of legroom and kneeroom in the 2nd-row and decent head room too, to keep you comfortable we have two USB charging ports below and storage for the phone as well, Safari also gets the thing called ‘BOSS’ Mode where in you can move the co-passenger seat from the rear giving ample amount of legroom for you to stretch-out. Overall 2nd Row is great place to be in. The quality of the interior is really good lot of soft touch plastic as well and on lower half there is hard plastic. The white color for the interior isn’t the great idea, gives the cabin airy feeling but it will catch dust easily. Captain Seats (OPT).
FEATURES
7 inch touchscreen supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, navigation, bluetooth connectivity. 7 inch Instrument Cluster display TFT display but the speedometer is analogue, Multi-function steering wheel with leather upholstery, cruise control, 6 way powered adjustable driver and co-passenger seat, Auto dimming IRVM, LED helps to lit the Cabin, the massive Panoramic Sunroof opens up to bring light inside the cabin, Drive Modes( Eco, City, Sport), Electric Auto Hold and Electric parking brake thankfully they got rid of that Aircraft like handbrake, Ambient Mood lighting. JBL 8 speaker sound system with 4 speaker and 4 tweeters and external sub woofer sounds great. Follow me Home headlamps and Auto retracting ORVMS, Auto headlamps and Auto wipers, climate control A/C, Connected car tech, Tire pressure Monitoring System, Terrain Response System (Normal, Wet, Rough), Hill Descent control. In order to Nit-pick it could have get ventilated seats, sun blinds in the 2nd row and more considering the price.
3rd ROW COMFORT
The legroom in the 3rd row is quite nice, but for longer journeys you will have to have mutual understanding with the person in the 2nd Row for enough enough legroom. the under-thigh support is good enough and seat isn’t placed too low and adjustable headrest are boon. For comfort there are A/C vents on the side and there is place to keep your phone and other stuff. Overall the 3rd is decent enough its great for the kids, adequate for medium size adults and Tall passenger will not be comfortable here.
PERFORMANCE
Let’s start with the heart of the matter, the oil burner is a Fiat and Jeep Sourced is 2.0L Kryotec diesel engine 1956 cc in-4 cylinder produces 170 Horsepower at 3750 RPM & 350 Nm of torque from low 1750-2500 RPM, its powerful diesel engine paired to 6 speed manual/ 6 speed torque converter sourced from Hyundai. The Safari is based on OMEGARC it’s derived from Land Rover’s D8 platform, they have used steel instead in order to give aggressive pricing. The refinement levels are good , drive ability lower down is decent because of turbo lag, but its not much. Clutch is heavy and the gearbox isn’t the smoothest shifting. The car feels absolutely rugged and gives that SUV feel which most 7 seaters are lacking. The steering wheel is a hydraulic unit, at lower and parking speeds its quite heavy, at higher speeds it gives feedback and weighs up as well. the car is composed around the corners, capable enough where in you can push the car with 6/7 passengers on board.
Safety Features
On the safety front ESP (Electric stability program), ABS with EBD, Brake disc wiping, Roll over mitigation, Cornering Stability control, hill Hold control, 6 Airbags, rear parking sensor with camera, 14 ESP other mods.
If I had to buy mid-sized 7 seater than it would be TATA SAFARI, Or Toyota Innova, It has got bullet proof reliability and the brand has proven it self over the years period!, I know i have to sell my kidneys for it ;). If I would buy the TATA SAFARI then I would short-list the XT+ Or XZA+ trim with 7 seats.
In Indian Automobile industry, there are around 40% – 50% of people wanting an automatic car for them, and they majorly drive in city. Every automaker should have automatic gearbox in each and every vehicle they launch. In this blog I’m going to tell you about different automatic transmission and i will tell which automatic gearbox is the best for you, depending on your use and want.
TYPES OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1. Automatic Transmission (The most common gearbox): The gearbox from it’s name tells us that it is a torque converter. This is the gearbox which is widely use all over the world. There is hydraulic fluid coupling or torque converter to do the job of changing gears instead of clutch. The Engine is directly connected to this mechanism for changing the gears. The working of the gearbox is decent and it’s good gearbox. This gearbox is for a person who likes driving, but that too not much. I would suggest this gearbox only if you are not that much deep into driving and want for convenience only.
2. Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) : This gearbox is also very common in upcoming cars nowards. This gearbox does not have any traditional metallic gears instead uses belts or pulls, a continuous variable transmission offers good gear shifts without any jerks, thanks to the belts or pulls in the use, which gives continuous serge of acceleration to your car and is one of the most frugal transmission in the market, but there lies a big but, unless you are gentle on to throttle the very thing will be smooth, but once you bang up the throttle the engine will keep on revving and the noise can be heard inside the cabin, it is called the rubber-band effect which pathetic. It is the best gearbox for a person who wants it far city and is rarely harsh on the throttle.
3.Automated transmission (AMT) : This gearbox is mainly used by Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai in their are entry level cars like Maruti Suzuki S-Presso and Hyundai Santro. This is the worst gearbox one would have seen in the markets right now. The gearbox change is so slow that it has ask its manufacturer “Sir can i shift a gear?”, that’s how slow the gearbox is. The shifts from the gearbox are very jerky and slow as well. But the person who doesn’t care about the gearbox shifts and just wants for convenience than this is the gearbox for them.
4. Dual-clutch Transmission (DCT) : This gearbox functions with dual-Clutches aws from the name itself tells us this, this gearbox uses to sets of gears one for odd number of gears and other for even set of gears rather than a torque converter. Unlike other gearboxes there is no liquid fluid in the functioning of the gearbox. This means the there might rough shift of gears, but these shifts are quick and jerkless, you can’t feel shifting of gears. This gearbox adds to better acceleration of the vehicle. And the fact is that you don’t need to change the gearbox fluid means less maintenance. One of the best in the gearbox. I would suggest this gearbox to someone who loves dynamic driving and out on highway it performs flawlessly.
5. Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) : This gearbox is the same as the DCT, dual clutches one for odd and one for even gears. But it’s different from DCT, because it uses gearbox fluid. This ensures seamless acceleration and the gearshifts are sleek and lightning quick. This gearbox is leagues ahead and there are leaps and bounds better than those AMTs and CVTs, this is by far the best gearbox!. I personally love it to the core and back
CONCLUSION
I would recommend the following:
Torque converter : For person who drives dynamic occasionally, but for everyday driving it’s good enough.
DCT/DSG : The gearbox for the person a person is loves driving and expects the lightning quick shits for extracting the best out of the engine.
This is best product yet from TATA, launched last year and now has got the facelift making it look fresher now, this car has the platform and the front suspensions from Land Rover Discovery. This means the car is based on an amazingly setup. Harrier’s major merits or advantage is it’s design, platform and the suspensions, and can called as,and yet i dare to say it is the Desi Land Rover having the DNA of the Land Rovers.
FEATURES:
The harrier gets a ton of features now, Updated with the Panoramic sunroof, Powered Driver seat, HID Projector headlamps, Auto Headlights,front and rear fog lights, Auto dimming inside rear view mirror, Auto Wipers, 8.8-inch touchscreen supports media, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, navigation and what not, and Cruise Control, Auto Climate Control, Leatherette upholstery.The fit-finish and quality of the cabin feelings very premium and appealing to the eyes, gets brownish treatment on the seats and the Dashboard. It gets many electronics which make it pretty capable off the road, such has wet mode, rough mode, city or normal road, sand mode or off road mode.
Safety Features :
Harrier gets 6 Airbags, Rear View parking camera, Hill start assist and hill decent control, ESP with 14 different other functions, Traction Control, Off-road ESP. The Car is TATA product, which means it is very safe car and if you search about the recent accident of the harrier, you will be astonished to know the even when the car rolled out on the road due to high speeding all the passengers are safe without the opening of the Airbags. This shows the build-Quality of the Harrier is nothing short of sensational.
COMFORT & SPACE :
The TATA had decided to built the Harrier with spacious rear seats and to deal with it, they decided to take the Land Rover Discovery Platform, the space at rear is pretty good even for a tall passenger there is good legroom, knee-room and headroom. The long journeys can be very comfortable in the Harrier, its gets an armrest with twin cup holders rear A/C vents are placed at B-pillar which is great touch and ergonomically better. You won’t feel Claustrophobic inside because the window area is large and the massive panoramic Sunroof brings in lot of airry feeling with light as well. The boot space is of 425 L, this means you can carry a lot of luggage while travelling with your family. The floor is almost flat and the cabin is wide enough for 3 people to seat in comfortably.
PERFORMANCE :
The heart of the matter lies with the 2.0L multijet Diesel engine, which Tata likes to call as Kyrotec, produces 170 PS of Power And 350 Nm of torque, it has been tuned and produces 30 PS more and this felt while you over-taking on highway and cruising comfortably. The harrier now gets an automatic transmission from hyundai it is a 6-speed torque converter unit, offers decent amount performance offers downshifts and upshifts whenever you want to extract the power , it is sleek but you can’t feel much inside. This diesel engine is offers punchy performance, there is some lag lower down but once you get into the mig-range pulls strongly towards the top end redlining at about below 5000 RPM mark. The refinement levels are as per the Tata standards, those noises, harshness and vibrations which we could hear after 3000 RPM from the pre-facelift are very well contained now, but they are still a there, the road and tyre noises filter through the cabin are also better contained.
RIDE & HANDLING BALANCE :
TATA motors has stunning ride in each and every car, obviously the newer ones. The Ride quality is the big strength of the harrier, the suspension at the rear are tuned by the tata motors and lotus and the front suspensions are taken from the Land Rover Discovery, the ride is stiff enough for the bad road and supple enough for high speeds, as you increase the speed of the vehicle the ride gets better and better. I personally love the ride quality of the harrier, bet me there is no car in the segment which can come close to harrier in terms of ride quality, feel of driving and the road presence it offers. the handling is also pretty nice i would say because there is feel and feedback from the steering wheel and has a haft and feels a bit heavy, but it also weighs up brilliantly at higher speed. There is body-roll on offer and naturally it should be there because after all it’s a SUV, but it better contained, the brakes offer decent stopping power.The ground clearance is great at 205 mm. This is the most capable front wheel drive SUV in the segment.
PRICING:
Let’s get the elephant in the room out so the pricing of the Harrier starts from 13.69 lakhs to 20.25 lakhs (ex-showroom), its priced quite attractively for what it offers.
Overview :
This is by far the best product from Tata Motors, rivals are Hyundai Creta, Jeep Compass, MG Hector etc. Overall i could say is that car is quite value for money for what it offers, those soft touch plastics and oak wood finish on the dashboard matching with the leather seats, gives very premiumness to buyers. Tata is back in the game with harrier.
I hope this blog was useful and informative for you guys.
The 5th generation Honda City is here, officially launched in India. The launch is confirmed in July and this is longest and widest sedan in the segment. It is the most popular sedan in the Indian market since its launch in 1988 . The city is popular for its 1.5L i-VTECH petrol engine a naturally aspirated motor.
SPECIFICATIONS
Let’s first talk about the i-VTECH petrol, it’s the New 1.5l unit, producing 122 ps of power and 145 Nm of torque, but now with BS6 compliance which means lower CO2 emission and better efficiency that is between 17.8 to 18.4 kmpl (ARAI), but in the real world we would get between 12-13 kmpl, now this depends upon your driving style and where your driving. The transmission is 6-Speed manual or CVT
Now let’s take the diesel, which is the question of many, So this is the revised 1.5l unit I-DTECH, now with the BS6 compliance producing 100 ps of power and 200 Nm of torque at 1750 rpm that means the low-end lag is well contained. This engine is very frugal at 24.1 kmpl(ARAI), but in the real world you might extract between 16-19 kmpl which is respectable and again it depends upon you how you drive it and where you drive. This is paired with only a 6-Speed Manual transmission, we expect a Automatic, because many customers required it for city at least.
FEATURES
Safety – 6 Airbags, ABS with EBD (Electronic Braking Device), ISOFIX child seat mounts, vehicle stability assists (VSA), Agile Handling Assists (AHA), Hill start assist, Tyre Pressure Monitoring system, Walk away auto lock, Lanewatch Camera, ASEAN N-CAP 5 Star Rating
Connected– Alexa connectivity with remote capability, Honda Connect with Telematics Control Unit (TCU) And Remote engine start.
OTHERS – Full LEDs headlamps and Tail Lamps, 7-inch HD full color TFT meter with G-meter, 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system supporting Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and Weblink support. One touch electronic Sunroof, Auto Headlights, Auto dimming IRVM, all 4 Power windows with one touch up and down with Pinch Guard, Steering Mounted Paddle Shifters in CVT variant, Ambient Lighting and LED interior lamps, Rear Sunshade, 506 litres of boot capacity, Smart Electrical Trunk Lock with Keyless Release, Touch Sensor Based Smart keyless Access Entry and last but not the least 16 -inch Diamond cut alloys.
PERFORMANCE
The New Honda City gets new 1.5L Petrol i-VTECH based on the New earth dreams technology. This engine is drivable lower down and makes driving in the city a boon, but once you get passed 3000 RPM the its starts getting vocal but the sound is not harsh and neither it is irritating, the overall refinement levels are great from the engine. This engine has dual characteristics, when drive sanely doing 100 kmph in the 6th gear everything thing is calm, refined and sleek, but when that VTECH bug kicks in you, downshift to 3rd and the way the engine pulls is absolutely phenomenal, you have all the power kick-ass power on your right foot. The gear box is sleek shifting and the clutch is also on the lighter side.
The Diesel engine is the same 1.5L i-DTECH but now based on the earth dreams technology. Earlier there used to the typical harshness and tractor like sound from the the engine, which is now minimized to a great extended and that improvement is felt in side the cabin but still there are some vibration and harshness that filter through the cabin once you get hard on to the throttle. But the major reason the diesel engine to buy is the mileage for the person who drives everyday for longer distance.
RIDE AND HANDLING BALANCE
The ride in the petrol City is on the softer side, it’s like the car likes the bad roads so much that whenever it goes over them, wants to feel them ashamed by its ride. The suspensions are now more compliant than before in 4th-Generation facelift, the corresponding outcome is the body roll bounciness on the bad roads at high speed. the handling here is not that sharp for my liking, the steering does give feel and feedback but its sluggy at centre-head position, and the lighter weight brings drawbacks with it. Talking about the brakes they sure footed and there are disc brakes only at the front, while the rear ones continues to remain the same drum brakes.
The Diesel engine being more heavier at the front it gives additional weight to car and its further adds to better handling of the diesel than the petrol. The suspensions are stiffer than that of the petrol, which means the ride gets better as the car gathers the pace. The steering and the brakes remain the same as the Petrol variant. Overall the handling would not be an issue with a regular driver, but might be weak for an enthusiast. the person who wants performance and fun will choose petrol, but there are many reasons for a rational buyer to choose the Diesel over the petrol.
RIVALS – Remains the same Hyundai Verna, VW vento, Skoda Rapid/ Rider, Maruti Suzuki Ciaz and Toyota Yaris.
DEMERITS – The quality of the interiors is not that great, the Dashboard design of the it is very basic and simple, the plastic of the dashboard is quite a lot hard and we expect a better quality interiors at this price point. Secondly the headrests at the rear are not adjustable and it is inconvenient for tall passengers. The raw feeling of the 4th generation is gone!
FACT– The Honda is going to Sell the current fourth- generation (petrol) also at great discounts. That is not a good idea Honda.
PRICING – It is expected 11 lakhs – 18 lakhs (ex showroom) It is priced way too premium
CONCLUSION – i would not at all suggest to buy the Fourth-generation over the upcoming
There are so many options in the segment for the premium hatchbacks and there is very tough competition in the segment . So today we will compare the best premium hatchbacks Maruti Suzuki Swift, Hyundai i20, TATA Altroz, Ford Freestyle. This is a very close competition in the segment , let’s see which is the best choice for you guys.
1.Maruti Suzuki Swift
This is third generation model, it is considered as premium hatchback because of the pricing of the swift.
Features and dynamics : multi-functional steering, 7.0 inch touchscreen infotainment system, the speakers of the swift are of good quality but the doors might tend to vibrate because low build quality which is the only and the major gribe with maruti suzuki cars , LED DRls with projector headlamps, they bright and offer good view, electronically adjustable rear view mirrors, sportier instrument cluster looks so good, there are 2 Airbags only but they standard across all variants and a ABS. There is a better leg room and head on offer then previous generation model
Performance and Dynamics – The swift is powered by BS6 1.2L k-series petrol engine , this engine produces 83 bhp of power and 113 Nm of torque , which is good enough and this engine is quite punchy offer good performance in almost the whole rev range and to attract the best one should pull it to the top end and this is paired to stick stiff 5 speed- manual gearbox, offer is slick shifts and the clutch is also on the lighter side . The steering of the swift still remains the best offers great feedback .The new wider tyres also offer good grip around the corners . The suspension is much better then before and offers good high speed stability and goes much better to bad roads.
Pricing: it is let to be revealed for BS6 versions
2. Hyundai i20
It is the most practically and famous hatchback in the segment and here is the second generation and facelift , it is India’s favorite hatchback. This facelift of the i20 is now with BS6 upgraded and gets only petrol engine on offer.
Features and Interior – It’s gets all-new 7.0 inch touchscreen infotainment system which supports navigation, android auto, apple Carplay and much more. The sound from the speakers is also great, it also offers automatic A/C with Dual-zone climate control system , there are LED DRls with projector setup headlamps. There is good space on offer in the i20 , there is ample amount of space at rear bench, there is good leg-room, knee-room and head room is adequate enough. The seats in the front and rear both are comfortable.
Performance and Dynamics – The powertrain is supported by 1.2L Kappa VTVT motor produces 83 PS of power and 114 Nm of torque, the engine is very punchy and offer terrific performance, it is peppy lower down. The engine is absolutely refined and smooth as well . This engine is paired to 5 speed manual transmission gearbox it offers slick shifts and is better then the one is in the swift and the clutch is also soft. The steering is also very feel some and offer very good feedback and the steering has multi-functions including cruise control. The car is also quite dynamic also well , the ride and handling balance of the i20 is outstanding , the ride is supremely comfy and high speed stability is also good. The car is quite frugal as well it means it offers good fuel efficiency as well. over all i could say it’s the best for city and good family car as well.
Pricing – 6.50 – 8.30 lakhs (ex-showroom)
3. TATA Altroz
This Altroz is based on the new alpha platform which is extremely light and it also gives car the an eye catching looks. It is the first ever premium hatchback from TATA and this new platform is liked by many of the automobile journalist and customers as well. Let’s talk about it more deeply.
Features and Interior – TATA Altroz gets 7.0 inch touchscreen floating infotainment system, Ambient lighting, 16 inch diamond-cut, cruise control, start-stop system, rear camera display, rear view with body coloring, 7.0 inch instrument cluster with half analogue display, Apple carplay and Android Auto, LED DRls with projector headlamps, exterior colored interior, leather wrapped gearbox and steering, electronically adjustable rear view mirrors, climate control and rear A/C, Auto headlamps and auto wipers, multi functional steering controls. Apart from these amazing and crazy features like 90 degree wide doors, the quality and fit-finish in the overall vehicles are not that great which is not expected in an premium car. as far as the space goes there is decent amount of space at the rear and the boot also is decently large enough, but the loading is quite high and might be task to put in heavy bags. Safety features on the Tata Altroz are dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, corner stability control, anti-glare IRVMs, engine immobiliser, reverse parking sensors.
Performance and Dynamics – There are two set of engines on offer petrol and diesel , the petrol engine is 1.2L 3-cylinder revortron unit which throws out 82 bhp of power and 113 Nm of torque and is paired to 5 speed manual transmission, this engine is quite refined lower down and better NVH levels , the performance is adequate enough and it might feel too slow fo5.29r an enthusiasts, adequate for city but lacks on an highway and gives an fuel economy of 15 km/l-20 km/l in petrol and diesel. The diesel engine is a 1.5l unit revortron motor which churning out 90 bhp and 200 Nm torque and is paired to 5 speed manual gearbox, this feels much better to drive compared to petrol and is the second BS6 diesel engine after Ford’s Freestyle in the segment feels good to drive and offers punchy performance then the petrol. The Ride and Handling balance feels the better then swift and i20, the ride quality is phenomenal absorbs almost every bad road and sharp bumps, as far as the handling goes the steering offers feedback rich and easy to steer and weighs up at high speeds and the brakes offer positive bite and the ABS is also not too sensitive.
Pricing – 5.29 – 9.34 lakhs (ex-showroom)
4. Ford Freestyle
This is based on ford figo platform which has the longest well-base n the segment. This is a crossover type of a vehicle and looks too close to it’s sibling Ford figo, This is considered in the premium hatchback segment because of the way it is setup and build more over like figo which is a premium hatchback. Lets know more of this beast.
Features And Interior – This huge list of features in the freestyle which shares its many of the features with it’s siblings like ecosport and figo, The is exactly the same as the of a figo but the dashboard is in the brown-black contrast which gives it a premium appeal. There are features like Keyless entry and push button start, 6.5 inch touchscreen infotainment system supports Android Auto and Apple Carplay, bluetooth, Automatic Climate control system, automatic headlamps these are smoke free but we expect LED DRLs with projector setup in this price point. There are many other features like Automatic wipers, rear view camera with parking sensor, speed sensing door locks, auto dimming inside rear view mirror. There are plenty of safety features as well, dual airbags are standard across all the variants and the topspec variants all 6 airbags, ABS, electronic stability programme and new a very cool feature from Ford is Active rollover protection, it senses when there is a sensation a body roll and cuts-off the engine power supply and applies the brakes minutely to insure the car is stable. The interior of the car is identical to the figo, there good legroom and headroom but there is not headrest and neither an armrest.
Performance and Dynamics- Freestyle is powered by a petrol engine and a diesel , the petrol engine is powered by 1.2L 3 cylinder dragon series producing 96 bhp of power and 120 Nm of torque, this naturally aspirated and there a minor lag till 2000 RPM, but after that its pulls cleanly and linearly to the top of the rev-range. The refinement levels of the engine are good but after 3500 RPM it starts getting vocal but the sound is sportier. The Diesel engine is the same 1.5L TDCi motor producing class leading performance, producing 100 bhp of power and 215 Nm of torque. This engine is feels better than the petrol to drive, it feels more punchy and it is easier to overtake as well. i feel that this the best engine in the segment because it produces most power and torque and gives better efficiency of 25 km/l (ARAI) and in the real world we would get around 15-18 km/l which very respectable. The dynamics are also good considering the ground clearance of 189 mm which great and go on the muddy roads and give the best ride there as well. The Ford has again nailed in the terms of ride and handling balance, the ride so good that it goes through bad roads with so much maturity and nothing is felt inside the cabin. The handling is also very great with that electronic steering which gives the best feel and feedback, the brakes also offer positive feel and wider tyres give better grip then any other.
Pricing – 5.89 – 8.19 lakhs (ex-showroom) BS6 version
Conclusion By Me
Maruti Sukuzi Swift – It’s is a car for people who want to save on fuel and have an engine which is peppy lower down and has a family of 2 +2(kids) because even after the increase in the dimensions there is not adequate space for long journeys, he or she should go for manual trim, but if they do not care about gear shifts and just wants automatic for convenience, than that gearbox is worth. ZXi Petrol Manual is my suggested variant.
Hyundai i20 – This is the car for a person who does not care about efficiency and maintenance cost and just wants performance, features with quality interiors then this is the car he or she should look for. But I would suggest you guys to wait for the new generation model which is coming this year soon, hopefully after the market re-opens. Asta or sportz both variants are good .
Tata Altroz – The buyer who is looking for newer and fresher design with most cool features like ambient lighting, and wants a diesel engine which offers good performance and quite decent fuel efficiency and wants it for the city and has a nuclear family then this is the perfect choice for them, because this vehicle fulfills all their requirements. Buy top XZ urban Diesel Manual.
Ford Freestyle – This a car for the youths and the people who love SUVs and crossover hatchbacks, basically the people who cannot afford Ecosport and want something rugged than figo, than this fits them best, because the car has 189 mm of ground clearance which is good enough for it to go over muddy and sandy roads and comes with great set of safety features and most airbags. This car is Fun to drive and most frugal in the segment and with cheaper maintenance cost. Buy titanium or titanium+ diesel or petrol as per you liking because both are powerful and frugal.
My personal pick is Ford Freestyle, diesel Manual. I would also recommend you guys Ford Freestyle, buy it and you will be happy with it for long…
now look wise it gets new front-rear bumpers, rear fog light and blackened headlight’s. The top most variant called Titanium BLUE which also gets piano black front grill, L shape graphics near the fog lamp , black roof and alloys which are now 15 inch and wider tier but in the only in this variant
lets get to specifications of the vehicle , the figo gets 3 engine options , 2 of the petrol and 1 diesel , the petrol engine is the new one called 1.2L 3-cylinder Dragon engine produces 96 ps and 120 Nm is punchy in low end and in the top end and flat in the mid-range , for get go we need to past 3000 RPM, its is paired with new 5-speed manual transmission gearbox and returns a mileage of 20kmpl(ARAI), and other is the 1.5L petrol engine produces 123ps of power and 150 Nm of torque which is paired with 6-speed torque converter gearbox which offers nice shifts.The diesel is 1.5L TDCI engine which produces 100bhp and 215 Nm of torque which offers teriffic perfomance and returns mileage of 25 kmpl(ARAI). the fact is that all the engines of the ford figo are segment leading.
The ford has loaded this car with ton of features,its gets 7-inch touch screen, Navigation, automatic headlamps and wipers, Power-folding mirrors, auto dimming inside mirror, rear parking sensors with camera, keyless entry and push button start,Auto climate control ,ABS & EBD, 6 airbags which are segment leading !! . But the infotainment system does not get Apple Carplay & and Andriod
there is good amount space at rear, gets adjustable head rest but it misses out on arm rest which is shocking !!!. but overall the car is very much practical , easy to own, run and maintain because the ford has worked on its service network .
The Pricing of the ford figo
PETROL starts at 5.39 LAKHS
DIESEL starts at 6,89 LAKHS
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This is the Monte Carlo edition variant (top spec), basically sporty version only exterior and interior changes, but only cosmetics. The Rapid gets a 1.0 litre TSI engine BS6 compliant. There is no change with the design of the vehicle since its launch back in 2011, which is too dated design updated with only cosmetic changes. We need the New Generation in India. For now let’s talk about the current one.
FEATURES:
Auto Headlamps with LED Daytime running, Auto Wipers, Auto inside rear view mirror, new 8.0-inch touchscreen, Auto climate control, Driver seat height adjust, reach and rage adjustable steering wheel, Cruise Control, power folding wing mirrors, boot lid open via remote, Footwell lighting, Window operation via remote, Cooled glovebox.
SAFETY – dual airbags in all variants, but in Style variant you get 4 airbags, i don’t know why Skoda has done like this. ABS, traction control and rear parking sensors with camera with no adaptive guidelines unfortunately.
COMFORT AND SPACE:
The rear of the cabin of the rapid remains the same, the seats are comfortable, knee room and legroom are decent enough, head-room is also adequate enough and under-thigh support is also good. There are removable sunblinds but the rear sunblind is missing, which offered by verna in the segment. There rear Aircon vents with 12V charging socat, but the USB point has more utility which is missing.Rapid has a fuel tank capacity of 55 liters which means the range is good enough.
PERFORMANCE:
The Rapid 2020 is powered by 1.0 TSI state of the art engine by VW group, produces 110 bhp of power @ 5000-5500 RPM and 175 Nm of torque @1750-4000 RPM which is massive torque band, this is the turbo-charged engine which means the lag has to be there and it is, there is lag lower down below 1750 RPM, but when the turbo sings his song my goodness the way it pulls is just nothing short of sensational. The mid-range is very punchy. This engine is paired with 6 speed manual Gearbox, this unit offers sleek shifts and the clutch is also very well calibrated.The refinement and NVH levels are good from this 3 cylinder engine, it’s just that past the low-end its is noisier. The fuel efficiency is good keeping in mind the turbo charged engine, in city you will get around 8-10 kmpl and on highway you can stretch to 13- 14 kmpl . The build quality is by far the best in the segment . Mechanically Rapid is a great car.
RIDE AND HANDLING BALANCE:
The ride quality is on the frimmer side which means you can much inside the cabin on bad roads and sharp bumps , but as soon as you gather pace the ride gets better and better. The steering is the flat bottom with beautiful leather stitching gives premium appeal and sporty look, but this steering is not that responsive, it does not give that connect which you want, gives good feedback and that last minute confidence is lacking. The small engine gives less weight, at the front it feels less noise heavy, the body-roll is well contained.
PRICING:
Rider (base) – 8.75 lakhs, Ambition – 11.6 lakhs, Onyx – 12.01lakhs, Style – 13.52 lakhs Monte Carlo – 13.86 lakhs. All the prices are on-road Mumbai
OVERVIEW :
The rapid is mechanically is a great package, but lacks in many aspects like features, design, sales and services network etc, but excels in quality interiors and ragade built quality.
CONCLUSION:
The person who wants a mid sized sedan with great built quality, matured ride quality, mechanically strong and quality interiors should go for Rapid.
The all-new hyundai verna is here, this is the facelift of the third-generation model. In terms of design, it is a evolution than a revolution, its looks much more sharper now and the new Dark Chrome grill is very attractive and makes the verna more appealing than before. The facelift gets 12 segment leading features and with three engine and four gearbox transmission options.
New Features
LED headlamps, Auto Headlamps, Digital instrument cluster, Automatic Climate Control System, Driver Height Adjustment, 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system supports Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, Hyundai blue-link connected car tech, Power folding wing mirrors, Ventilated seats at the front, Leatherette upholstery, Paddle shifters in Turbo variant, Sunroof, Auto dimming inside rear view mirror, Hands-free tailgate opening, wireless charging pad, Cruise control. But the dashboard is made with very hard plastics which means the quality is not that great and does not match with the pricing.
Safety features (1.0 Turbo-GDI)
6 Airbags, ABS, ESC( traction control), Vehicle stability management, four wheel disc Brakes, Front and rear parking sensors, Tyre pressure monitoring system, Hill start assists.
Specifications and Performance
The 1.0L Turbo GDI is 998cc 3 cylinder turbo petrol produces 120 Bhp @6000rpm and 172 Nm of torque @ 1500-4000rpm, this is and absolutely phenomenal motor and the engine is so punchy, pulls briskly. The engine is so good that it pulls it be any gear -any speed but you make sure that you are in the meet of the torque the band that is the above 1500 rpm. Being the most powerful engine option in its range and it is paired with the 7-speed DCT( dual clutch transmission) offers sleek shifts compared to the 6–speed CVT and is quite responsive as well. This Turbo engine being the most powerful yet is the most frugal engine of the remaining two NA(Naturally Aspirated) returns a mileage of 19.2 km/l which is respectable but in the real world it would return around 13-15 km/l depending upon your driving style and where you are driving it. This means its like having all the performance and yet pinching less to your pockets.
Dynamics
The old verna was quite a bit tilted towards sportyness but the new one is the opposite towards the Comfort Oriented that means the suspensions are softer then before and feels more compliant than before. The steering wheel Is absolutely light, it is so light that you can use the fingers to steer it but the only grive is that it does not offer feel and feedback, the connection which we expect is not there.
Comfort & Convenience
The problem of leg-room in the second row is still the same, in spite of the scooped out seats it’s not the adequate enough for average tall person and the cabin is also not wide enough for three passengers to sit in comfort, but there is and center armrest with twin cup holders, rear A/C vents with USB charging socket.
Conclusion
Overall i would can say is the 2020 verna is an amazing car as far as the exceptional space in the rear seat and the steering feel goes.
Suggestion for which Powertrain to Buy
Diesel – this engine is also good its 1.5L CRDI paired with either 6-speed manual or 6-speed torque-converter. If you have regular driving for longer distances and want the convenience then you should opt for Automatic, it is adequate for city.
Petrol (1.5) – The person who does not care about the performance and want a good, refined and smooth engine and you don’t use the car much than its better to opt this engine and the transmission should be upon your call .
Petrol(Turbo) – This engine is for the ones who love driving and want something really puchy, than this GDI should be your pick. This is engine or rather this is the best powertrain option in the verna lineup.
This question arises in the mind of every compact sedan buyer , there are many options in the market available , but which to choose as per your requirement , So today i’m going to give you guys a comparison of the 3 best compact sedan in the market:
Maruti Suzuki Dzire
Honda Amaze
Ford Aspire
MARUTI SUZUKI DZIRE
Let’s start with the dzire which every buyer is going to look for the first , the fcaelift of the car is launched with BS6 engine option only in petrol , the diesel is discontinued to due the new emission norms . The is now update and gets updates like revised front and rear bumpers ,powerful LED headlamps with DRLs , revised interior and more features on offer .
The Dzire gets new BS6 compliant petrol dual jet VVT engine, it is 1.2L unit and is paired to 5 speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission and is know as AGS according to Maruti Suzuki. In automatic variant we get hill start assist and ESP . The performance is quite smooth and linear, the automatic gearbox adds to convenience for city driving but out on highway the gearbox takes its own sweet time shift the gears. But in terms of mileage Dzire nails it , returning an outstanding mileage between 23-24 km/l claimed by maruti suzuki .
HONDA AMAZE
This is the 2nd-generation of honda amaze , this car gets update as per the BS6 emission norms and gets both petrol and diesel engine options with the automatic CVT gearbox . The amaze gets best legroom compared to dzire and aspire . The quality of interior is not that great which we expect from Honda. The dashboard gets very hard plastic and the infotainment system of the car is not that slick .The part where is the car is unbeatable is the space on offer , there is good legroom and knee room , head is quite less and might be an issue with tall passengers .
The performance of the amaze is good, both the engines are punchy. The diesel is 1.5L unit and petrol is 1.2L , diesel is more faster and eager than the petrol and gives better mileage than petrol ,Diesel returns mileage of 23-24 kmpl and petrol returns a mileage of 17-18 kmpl .The refinement levels of the petrol are better than the diesel . Both the engines get automatic transmission option 5 speed CVT gearbox , which is better then the AGS of dzire .
FORD ASPIRE
Ford had launched the updated version of aspire in 2018 . The aspire gets updated BS6 petrol and diesel engines . The car does not get the best leg room in the segment but it is adequate enough for the passengers, but it is only best for only passengers as the cabin is not that wide enough . The boot space is also decently big . Overall the aspire has good space and is more practical choice because the fuel efficiency is staggering for petrol -17-18 km/l and diesel is 24.6 km/l .The petrol engine is 1.2-litre motor producing 96PS of power and 119 NM of torque , the performance is adequate enough , but in the middle of the rev range there is flat spot and wakes up in the top of the rev range where as diesel engine is the 1.5-litre TDCi producing 100 PS of power and 215 Nm of torque , this engine is punchy and pulls almost throughout the rev range and its very frugal as well which means we can enjoy the performance by revving the nuts of out this diesel engine without putting our pockets of fire.
The interior of the aspire is beige and neat and cleanly finished , gets 7.0 inch touchscreen infotainment system , its the most slickest to use and supports Apple car play and android auto connectivity , navigation , media etc. The aspire does not get projector headlamps, which is expected by every buyer . The car is one of the safest in the segment and gets class leading 6 airbags . It gets automatic headlamps and wipers and it is also class leading . The ford motors always nails the ride and handling balance of their cars and in this aspire as well they nailed the ride and handling balance , the ride absorbs everything in it’s strive and handling is also pin point accurate ,which means that last minute confidence is there.
Conclusion
Maruti Suzuki dzire – The person looking for comfortable, good ride , more features and wants efficient and refined petrol engine should go for dzire.
Pricing ₹5.89 – ₹8.80 lakhs (Ex- showroom)
Honda Amaze – The person who wants spacious and comfortable compact sedan and does not care about features should good for amaze, preferably both petrol and diesel engines.
Pricing – ₹ 6.12 – 9.98 Lakhs ( ex-showroom)
Ford Aspire – The person who is looking for practical choice , good amount of features , performance oriented and does not care about convenience should go for aspire . Its\ is value for money car .
If i was asked to pick one of these , i would pick aspire any day – everyday.
If you liked this blog then make sure you give a like and subscribe to my page and let me know which compact sedan you would choose and why?
The 2nd generation of the India’s favourite SUV is launched in the Indian market and it can take over to its rivals like Kia Seltous , MG hector etc. The new design language of hyundai is seen on its new cars like venue , grand i10 NIOS and now its the Creta . The design is not good as such for my liking , tell me your opinion about the exterior of the creta in the comment section below. Overall i could say is that the design is like , like it or or hate it .
talking about the interior is better appealing and more eye catching , the dashboard quality is not that good as per the pricing of the vehicle . creta gets a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system supports android auto , apple car play ,navigation , vehicle data . It gets features like Auto climate control , panoramic sunroof which brings lot of light and air inside the cabin , 8 speakers Bose audio system which makes the car disco , electronic parking brake , BluLink connectivity technology which offer tons of information about the car and data like your driving score , how hard you smashed the throttle and much more, ventilated seats that are cooled seats , which are boon for Indian climatic conditions
The instrument cluster is part digital , gets paddle lamps , reclining rear backrest , he headrest at the rear gets a soft cousin as well which makes it comfortable for the long journeys , at rear its gets sunblind and a cooled glovebox .
There are good set of engine gearbox combination options available with creta line up . its get 1.5L MPI petrol engine which produces 115 Hp of power @6300rpm and 144 nm of torque @4500rpm paired to 6-speed manual or CVT. There is 1.5l turbo diesel engine produces 115 HP of power @4000 rpm and 250 nm of torque @1500rpm-2750 rpm and it is paired to 6-speed manual or Automatic .Apart from this Hyundai also offers 1.4L GDI turbo charged petrol engine produces 140 HP of power @6000rpm and 242 nm of torque @ 1500-3200 rpm and it is paired to 7-speed DCT gearbox , this is the same unit which is shared with hyundai venue .
Now the rear is quite spacious , it has good amount of legroom , kneeroom and headroom as well but the quality of the seats are not that great , i think the rear seats could be more comfortable and more cousinny .
The New Hyundai Creta’s pricing has been revealed and it is priced at between 9.99lakhs-17.20lakhs (ex-showroom) . The car feels quite expensive but it offers best features also and excluding the quality of seats and some fit finishes, overall i would say is that the new creta is a good package. But hyundai should do something with their pricing of the vehicle.
Hi, guys welcome to another blog of mine ,in this blog of mine I ‘m going to tell you about the new Volkswagen t-roc, it is an rival of cars like hyundai creta , Kia seltos , Jeep Compass .
The vehicle is imported from Germany and the import of the vehicle is in limited numbers 2500 units and after the response from the Indian market the production target will be decided . The car is based on the latest MQB platform of Volkswagen group of automobiles.
The power train option is just one, which is 1.5 TSI petrol engine paired to 7-speed DSG gearbox which is the best gearbox in the segment, offers slick shifts . This petrol engine is turbocharged and has direct injection , it offers punchy performance in the mid-range and screams in top end of the rev range, redlining at around 6300 RPM . This engine offers 150 PS of power and 250 NM torque .i It offers nice fuel efficiency of 15-18 km/l on highway and in city 12-13 km/l which is good. The city and highway performances are good . the top speed of the vehicle is 204 km/h (claimed).
Volkswagen T-roc offers plenty of features like passive entry, push button start, lane keep assits , digital instrument cluster offers every information we need , 8.0 inch infotainment system supports Apple Car Play and Android Auto, navigation, vehicle information, real time mileage , auto hold, parking brake and rear parking camera and sensors, LED headlamps and tail lamps , automatic headlight and whippers , center console is gorgeous and is finished in the body color along the dashboard . its gets huge Panaromic sunroof as well. The only problem with the vehicle is rear seat space and dashboard quality is very low.
The suspension system of the vehicle is very accurate, not much soft and not much stiff , its just pin point accurate. The ride and handling is just phenomenal, it defeats the Kia seltos in terms of handling and ride quality which is very stiff. The steering wheel gives good feedback, but some how its feels artificial like other vehicle of Volkswagen and its group of companies. The build quality of the Volkswagen is just mind blowingly strong which helps it the high speed stability of the vehicle. The vehicle does moves even past 160 km/h . The car is overpriced and this would be the only issue other wise it excels in everything.
The pricing of the T-roc starts from 20L- 25L (ex-showroom Mumbai) the top the line variant comes with All-wheel-drive option as well.
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